The difference between how seriously our leaders take cooperative movement and how leaders in our neighboring countries take it was most glaring on July 2, International Cooperative Day.
While in India a lackluster program was organized by National Cooperative Union Of India where the lone cooperative leader present was NCUI president Chandra Pal Singh Yadav. The man was all alone holding the flag of cooperative mantle single handed in a billion strong country.
In neighboring Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa graced the function as the chief Guest which was organized at Welagedera stadium in Kurunegala, the capital of North Western Province and a number of leaders participated with zest.
In case of India, forget the Prime Minister even the agriculture minister whose political clout revolves around cooperatives hardly bothered to give a thought of finding out what is happening on this important day.
The highest government officials who perhaps grudgingly acceded to come for the function was a joint secretary level officer presently posted as Central Registrar. He came last of all speakers and left before the last speaker has made his speech.
Indiancooperative.com has gathered that NCUI’s many efforts in past to invite union ministers on important cooperative events have met with cold response.
Now talking of Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa said the Cooperative Societies have rendered a great service for Sri Lankans on retail marketing especially with the supplying of essential food items at reasonable prices, it is commendable during difficult times.
Watch Rajapaksa words. Did not our first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru talked in the similar vein? He saw in cooperative movement a potential tool to foray into deepest pocket of the country and begin the transformation from within.
Eleven books on cooperative movement was launched on this occasion in Sri Lanka while a county which is ever eager to quote that we are 25 crore member driven cooperative- had any such release. Let us pray Nehru is not turning in his grave by our royal miss to great occasion.